Law of Falling Asleep During a Meal
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Question
I was sitting with my family for a meal and fell asleep on the couch. Can I continue eating when I wake up?
Answer
Since you fell asleep on the couch, you can continue eating without a blessing, but you need to wash your hands without a blessing, as you have diverted your attention from keeping them clean.
Someone who went to sleep on their bed during the meal, this is considered a complete interruption, and if they want to return to eating bread, they need to wash hands with a blessing and recite the blessing over the bread.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 178: "A person who falls asleep during a meal with a temporary sleep, it is not considered an interruption." And the Mishnah Berurah writes in Siman 178, Subparagraph 48: "And even if he slept for about an hour, since he was forced to sleep, it is not considered an interruption, and there is no need to bless 'Hamotzi' [but hand washing is required without a blessing, as the PMG writes]. If he slept on his bed, it is considered a complete interruption, as this is a diversion and cessation of attention according to all opinions."
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